Product Description

As children play Rat-a-tat Cat, they develop a sense of timing and an understanding of basic, but essential, mathematical concepts. They learn ways to remember their cards and strategies to figure out what cards other players might have. They also begin to develop an intuitive sense of probability. Rat-a-tat Cat requires skill, strategy, and awareness, challenging both young children and adults.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1488 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Gamewright Rat - A - Tat - Cat
• Model: 204
• Released on: 2006-06-12
• Dimensions: 1.50" h x 4.75" w x 5.75" l, .70 pounds

Features

• Children's card game that helps develop timing and basic mathematical concepts
• Teaches strategy, memory building, and addition
• Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Toy Award; Mensa 1996 Best New Mind Game Award
• Includes 54 rat, cat, and power cards
• For 2 to 6 players

Amazon.com
It's never too early to develop a good poker face. With Rat-a-Tat Cat, a poker face is just one of the skills players need to perfect. As in poker, luck, skill, strategy, and intuition each play a part. Players are dealt four cards, which are kept face- down, except for a quick peek at two of them. Each player in turn pulls a card from the draw pile to replace one of the four. Memory is important, as the object is to end with the lowest score, and players must keep track of the values on their four cards. "Peek," "Swap," and "Draw Two" Power cards turn up occasionally, allowing players to maneuver and strategize further. Delightfully witty pictures of cats (the good guys--low points) and rats (bad guys--high points) illustrate each of the 54 cards. Young card sharks will develop a sense of timing and greater ease with numbers, and can begin to grasp the concept of probability. Winner of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Toy Award and the 1996 Mensa Best New Mind Game. For 2 to 6 players. --Emilie Coulter

From the Manufacturer
A game of suspense, strategy, and anticipation. Get rid of the high cards (rats) and go for the low cards (cats). Sneak a peek, draw two, or swap cards for an added twist. Low score wins the game. (A poker face helps!)

Customer Reviews

Learning basic addition skills can be fun.
Rat-a-Tat Cat is our favorite game to play with our six year old. Your child will learn basic math skills (addition), gain an intuitive appreciation of probability and gaming, and have fun at the same time. Best of all, parents will enjoy playing this game with their children. Because it combines elements of chance and skill, anyone can win at any time.

Rat-a-tat Cat is a fast paced card game where the object is hold the minimum number of points. It has much in common with certain types of poker games and children's card games such as "go-fish". The fast paced nature of the game both decreases boredom (especially for parents) while giving children the maximum opportunity to try out their addition skills. My guess is that children between the ages of 5-7 will learn the most from this game, but it can be enjoyed by all ages.

Finally, Rat-a-Tat Cat is easily portable. It can be played anywhere you can play cards. This makes it great for airplanes, car backseats, or the kitchen table.

A mom
This is a favorite game in our family. Parents as well as a 13 yr. old boy and 9 yr. old girl love it and play it often. It's a game that anyone can win. I don't have to "let" the kids win, they usually beat me! We sometimes turn it around and try to be the one with the highest score. That adds more addition challenge. It's small and compact so it's great for traveling. Highly recommended!

Really fun family game - great for travelling
Talk about good things coming in small packages - this is a really cool game. The rules are simple to grasp, and each round of play only takes about 3-4 minutes so you never have time to get bored. The cards themselves are lovely with quirky humorous pictures, and while you have to be quite focussed to remember what your own cards are, and how other people are reacting to their cards, there is enough of an element of chance that anyone, regardless of age, can win. Also the game has quite a "positive" emphasis - you are more focussed on how good your own hand is, rather than how badly everyone else is doing. My kids (13 and 6) used to rush home from school to play this, and we've taken it away on holiday with us, as it's small and light, and doesn't require lots of space to play. Love this game.